Was it a dream! That's a statement, not a question. A fairytale brought to life, a fantasy world of make-believe - The Sleeping Beauty as presented by The Cape Town City Ballet (CTCB), South Africa's national ballet company, hosting three international artists this time.
This classical ballet is accompanied by the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Graham Scott (at selected performances) at the Artscape Opera House in Cape Town on 10-18 August.
On Saturday, 10 August, Aurora was played by Laura Bosenberg and her Prince Florimund by Thomas Thorne - the CTCB's principal dancers and South Africa's top dance partnership according to executive director Elizabeth Triegaardt, who played the Lilac Fairy in the initial Cape Town production back in 1975. The fairies were a favourite, especially the Golden Vine Fairy played by Mami Fuji, a ballerina from Japan. I could almost hear others smiling with me at her mysterious hand movements as if to magically bring forth that response.
Today and Saturday, 17 August, Fuji will make her debut as Princess Aurora, partnered by Ramiro Samón from Cuba who will make his in the role of Prince Florimund. Burnise Silvius, principal dancer from The South African Mzanzi Ballet Theatre dances with the CTCB's Trevor Schoonraad also alternating in the lead roles.
The storyline is comprised of four acts, namely The Christening, The Birthday, The Awakening and The Wedding, significant events in Aurora's life - the most being when Prince Florimund wakens her with a kiss. In my opinion that's the stuff dreams are made of.
For not having been invited to her christening, the wicked fairy Carabosse casts a spell on baby Princess Aurora. When she turns sixteen, Aurora will be pricked by a spindle and die. The Lilac Fairy comes to the rescue and changes the spell so that Aurora doesn't die, but instead falls into a deep sleep, to be woken by a handsome prince. As expected, on her sixteenth birthday, Aurora pricks her finger and the spell is cast. A hundred years later, the Lilac Fairy leads the handsome Prince Florimund to the sleeping beauty. He instantly falls in love with her and breaks the spell by awakening her with a kiss. They celebrate their wedding in the company of nymps, cavaliers, the Songbird, Red Riding Hood and Puss in Boots.
I was surprised to see Puss in Boots and his feisty feline having a 'cat fight' and fearful Red Riding Hood being terrorised by the big bad Wolf. Without giving too much away, let me just say, The Sleeping Beauty promises to be a delight.
This performance confirmed two things: one, my regret of hanging up my dancing shoes; and two, my ever-increasing appreciation for the arts.
Don't regret not booking tickets, ranging from R100 to R300 and available at Computicket or Artscape Dial-a-Seat on 021 421 7695. Ends this Sunday.
